Supposedly, the unexamined life is not worth living. That's at least what Socrates said.

Why is Socialism such a bad word in America??

One year ago today, President Barack Obama signed healthcare reform into law. America is widely known as the land of liberty and opportunity; the land where many thrive on the principle of being a brothers’ keeper, and most importantly, a nation “for the people, by the people.” The United States is without question the leading country of medical and scientific advances. There always seem to be a new medical breakthrough every time one watches the news or read the newspaper, especially in researching cure for serious diseases. Healthcare is fundamental to an enlightened society.If citizens cannot afford healthcare expenses they are at a higher risk for death!

The United States is the richest nation on earth, and no citizen should live without health care. So why are so many people against bettering the American society?? I personally would not want to live in a diseased infested society where my health is at risk every time I step outside. We say we are a nation “for and by the people”, why aren’t we living up to that?? What is so wrong with everyone having proper healthcare??

A year into Healthcare reform and many are still trying to appeal the law.Why? My only answer is that as a nation we have been brainwashed by capitalistic values. We see anything non-capitalistic as bad. Every modern, developed country has some combination of capitalism and socialism. In the US we have socialized education, police and fire protection, roads and bridges,etc. Why not socialized healthcare?? Are we that greedy of a nation? The past health system was inefficient, wasteful, expensive, economically disastrous, cruel and left nearly 50 million people uninsured. Happy Birthday Health Care Reform! Wish for many more years to come!

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I agree I think too often people are too caught up by how certain policies align with political ideologies as opposed to whether or not they will help our country. Anything that can help us should be viewed as a positive even if it is “socialist”. Too often people misunderstand the true meanings of political ideologies and instead worry about their connotations.

I think health care is a right that all people should have access to, but I am opposed to Obamacare. You said people are brainwashed by a capitalistic system, but Obamacare fixes some of today’s modern flaws in the health and adds its own. It could also be considered unconstitutional to force people into having health care, even if it is beneficial to them. The potential shortage of doctors is another problem as well as rising premiums on insurance. If the government paid for everyone’s insurance there would be different arguments against it, but the question of socialism would still be here. I think conservatives’ biggest problem with it is the expansion of government and the things that could come from this. We face an ever increasing deficit and the expansion of government spending scares some people into thinking the costs will increase even more. It is hard to change everyone’s mind so quickly to such a drastic change in the government’s actions: i.e capitalism to socialism.

@bwand- You mentioned “Obamacare” is forcing people into having health care. Under the new health care reform law, NO ONE is being forced into any type of coverage. For those who are satisfied with their plan the only changes will be upon request. NO ONE is being forced. The law is for the near 50 million uninsured Americans struggling to afford proper care that should be given to them as a right anyway! As far as our increasing deficit,the Affordable Care Act includes the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in American history. Additionally, it has been predicted that the new law will create jobs – estimated at more than 250,000 per year.

The law is not trying to change anyone’s views, it’s simply just trying to help the citizens.

The real question I have is: How do we expect to pay for this proposed hike in healthcare. I see the benefits of healthcare provided to every citizen: lower overall costs, better national health, etc… The issue is that the nation can barely manage the funds meant to be put toward medicare and medicaid. These are small, special interest programs relative to the Obamacare plan. I am leery of a new, even more expensive plan without something to prove it would be managed soundly. The healthcare reform plan will only work if the funds are there when it came time to collect.

Again,the Affordable Care Act includes the largest middle-class tax cut for health care in American history! Additionally, it has been predicted that the new law will create jobs – estimated at more than 250,000 per year.

Please be reminded that america is NOT BROKE! billions of dollars are spent on a daily basis solely for warfare purposes. We can definitely afford healthcare.

Just because we can spend money does not necessarily mean we should, and we are currently doing it with a tremendous deficit. And I do agree that healthcare reform is necessary, I just want reassurance that the funds will be managed properly.

Even right now the surpluses in social security are being used to cover parts of the deficit. When it comes time to pay, though, we will be hurting.

We need to be sure that the government is held accountable for managing the Obamacare funds properly in times of surplus, because they never last.

I think you make a great question, on why so many people are against bettering our society. The healthcare does seem to be “healthy” for all of us. Those without healthcare can now go on living better lives, and not having to worry about something tragic happening. Personally I dont think we are brainwashed by capatalist values. Just some people feel that the money should be going in other directions than healthcare. It seems morally wrong, but sometimes we just need to defind ourselves. Not alwasy relying on the govenrment to back us up. Again, the healthcare act was probably for the best. But I just feel that our nation is fairly strong capatalist, but not to the point where we are brainwashed by it. Happy Birthday Healthcare!

Even though America is characterized as a capitalistic nation, I do agree that there are many aspects of our government that are socialist, including public education and police systems as you pointed out. However, I believe capitalism to be the driving force of this nation. I believe most Americans are scared of socialist principles because they feel they won’t be rewarded for their hard work. Capitalism allows for people to make as much money as they want/can given hard work. Those who work hard to make a good enough living to afford private health insurance don’t want it to be taken away from them, which could very well be possible with the introduction of a public option or a universal policy. America is the land of opportunity, and opportunity means having options. Take those options away, and you find yourself living in a country very unlike the United States of America.

The goal for healthcare reform is to provide a means for all to be able to have health insurance. The people who feel that their rights are being diminished are though that do not currently have healthcare because they do not choose to pay for it. The system would not force people who want to buy the healthcare of their choice to purchase a different plan. It just requires that there is healthcare for everyone, and it provides a minimal healthcare for those who desire it. It doesn’t change the private sector except that it creates more competition and makes the American market more competitive.

To compare it to education, there is a public venue for education which tax dollars are allocated to (public schools). For the ones who can afford it, they can choose to send their children to private schools that cost money. This is very similar to the desired healthcare system.

Brainwashed by capitalism…Are you kidding me? Seriously? In America, that’s the same as if you were to say “brainwashed by freedom”. A staple of America is an equality of opportunity, not equality of results. And I trust you know we are in debt up to our eyeballs. This money for Obamacare doesn’t just fall from trees. And next time you are looking for an example to back up your claim about how great the government runs things you should pick something that actually works, not public education. Our students are falling well behind other countries. The government has failed to run education and social security. Why would healthcare be any different?

You say the past healthcare system was “inefficient, wasteful, expensive, economically disastrous, cruel and left nearly 50 million people uninsured.” So what about that other 250 million people? They obviously had insurance.

I agree with Justin Kucera when he says “Are you kidding me?” to your brainwashed by capitalism bit. As he said, America was built on freedom of opportunity. What one does with that opportunity reflects the results they have.

You also mention because “the United States is the richest nation on earth” all American citizens should have healthcare. I agree in an ideal world everyone would have healthcare in this nation. However, where do you propose we get the funds to spend on this endeavor? Considering the current economic recession, and the billions of dollars of debt we have, I’m not sure the claim “richest nation on earth” go to us.

Finally, if you are going to talk about the great works of the government, do not mention the public education system. We may have some of the best universities in the world, but our secondary education system is not nearly as good as other countries; according to a report called global grade, the United States is in the middle end of that sector. (http://www.greatschools.org/students/academic-skills/1075-u-s-students-compare.gs?page=1)

I really liked that clip on former President Bush. He is absolutely right. Private insurance is the only acceptable form of insurance. Privitization ensures innovation. When companies are driven by profit, they will always be looking for new forms of medicine that help improve and save lives. You call this search for profit “greed”, giving it as much disdain as you say others give “socialism” and “marxism”. And yet it is this greed, this concept which you have so distorted in your mind, which has been saving and imporving lives. To quote the great Gordon Gecko, “Greed, for lack of a better word, is good”. He was spot on. Don’t cast off the desire to better ones life fiscally as this 0ne dimensional evil, instead view it for what it really is; a force which, within a capatilist system, produces most everything we want and need in society.
You may demonize capitalism, painting a hellish portait of money grubbing, greedy fat cats, but in reality it is the exact opposite. It is a way of life which betters simoltaneously oneself and, either indirectly or directly, those around them.

We already had a socialist welfare healthcare option. It is called Medicaid/Medicare. Nobody, not even an undocumented immigrant who commits a felony and cannot speak a word of English, is denied healthcare in this country. Before that particular socialist scam, we had charity hospitals funded privately by churches and other philanthropic groups and still nobody was turned away. This, like any number of leftwing Causes Celebre, are about bringing the top down, not bringing the bottom up. Of course all of this is just my opinion.